Although this has been a short week, I have learned a lot about working together with people that have different agendas and goals, work for different departments, or just overall disagree on something. My biggest takeaway is that is is crucial to have clear standards of communication set in place and that these methods of communication are used properly. 

It is also important to understand where each person is coming from, and for the leaders in an organization to make consistent, hard decisions. It is crucial that leaders making these decisions know how to communicate effectively themselves and understand how their decisions will affect the organization and its culture. Working for an organization where the majority of employees and supervisors only work part-time comes with its challenges of playing catch-up and delays on projects. Another reason things can get delayed is having too many steps of approval for everything that is done. I think an important part of a healthy organization is trust that each person is competent in their role and will perform at or above expectations without so many levels of approval. I have noticed not only through this experience but past roles that getting projects started or ideas into tangible products are slowed by the lack of communication and trust. I understand that things released to the public affect our public image and may need a second look, but I think there can be a middle-ground.

One way to help this communication may be to have clear responsibilities for each role that do not overlap so nobody feels as if their toes are being stepped on or that anyone is going over each other’s heads. In the nonprofit world, everyone has a huge heart and is very passionate about their work. Itis was to let passion affect working relationships. It can be hard to assume good intent and know that others are doing and saying what they feel is best for the organization.

Although the above learnings seem harsh, it only means that there is room for change and improvement. I am genuinely enjoying my time at Ohio Wildlife Center and learning valuable skills that I can apply to my personal and professional lives along the way.